Electric connector for dash-lamps, &amp;c.



. J. BERG.. ELECTRIC CONNECTOR FOR DASH LAMPS, m.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20. 1917.

Patented Apr. 30, 1918.

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JOHN sane, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssI'Gnon T0 METAL SP'EGIALTIESnanomerename COMPANY, on CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC CONNECTOR FOR DASH-LAMPS, 5w.

Specification of Letters Patent. -Pgmtentenl Apr, SQ, TJ ll@,

Application filed July 20, 1917. Serial No. 181,894.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN BERG, a citizen of the United States, residingat Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,

have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric Connectors forDash- Lamps, &c., of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to means "for securely mounting adash-lamp on an automobile and preventing rattling thereof.

The primary object is to provide a simple and cheap construction in thisclass, of devices, which will serve eitectively to accomplish thepurpose indicated, without Interfering with the ready demountability ofthe dash-lamp from its support.

The invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment in theaccompanying drawing, in which--,

Figure 1 represents a side elevational view of a dash-lamp and theconnector which carries the same, equipped with my improvement, thespring-housing employed being shown in section; Fig. 2, a sectional viewof a dash, or stationary support, equipped with a connector having asocket, for receiving the connector shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a brokenvertical sectional view showing the dash-lamp mounted in a. socketcarried by the dash; Fig. -l, a broken perspective view showing theportion of the connector which carries the lamp and the spring tolloWerwhich is adapted to be placed thereon; and Fig. 5, a broken perspectiveview of a cord equipped with connectors, enabling the dash-lamp to beused as an exploring lamp.

In the construction illustrated A represents the dash, or otherstationary support forming part of an automobile body: B, a

I connector mounted in the support A and equipped with conductors Badapted for connection with an electric source; G, a dash-lamp which iscarried by or equipped with a connector C, by means of which thedash-lam may be mounted in the connector B; and a cord comprisingelectric conductors equipped with connectors D and D the former ofwhichis adapted to receive the connector G, and the latter of which isadapted to be entered in the socket of the connector B.

The connector B comprises a shell or sleeve 1, one end of which isequipped with an attaching ,flange 2 and the other end of which isfitted with an insulation plug 3. The plug 3 is equipped withspring-contacts 1, which may be of any well-known construction. In theillustration given, the spring-contacts a are of the plunger type, beingconnected through the plug 3 with the conductors of the cord B. Theshell 1 is provided with the usual bayonet-slots 5, which have recessesor bays 5 adapted to interlock with the studs of a connector which maybe inserted.

The connector C of the dash-lamp, in the illustration given, comprises ashell or sleeve 6, one end of which is fitted with a holder 7 in whichis detachably mounted a reflector or guard 8. In the other end of thesleeve 6 is secured an insulation plug 9 which is equipped withspring-contacts 10. The contacts 10 may be of any approved type, and areadapted to register at their rear ends with the contacts at. The frontend of the sleeve 6 is provided with bayonet slots 6 in the usualmanner. The front end of the sleeve 6 receives the shank 11 of anelectric bulb 12. The shank 11 is equipped with lateral studs 13 adaptedto ei-igage the bayonet-slots 6. Interposed between the contacts 11 ofthe shank 11 and the spring-contacts 10 of the plug 9 is a rotatableswitchdisk 15. The switch-disk 15 is of insulating material and isprovided with contact posts 15 which extend therethrough. The switchdiskis operated by means of a stud 16 which is equipped with a handle 16,the stud 16 working in lateral slots 16 with which the sleeve 6 isprovided.

No claim is made in the present application for the switch-disk 15. Itmay be omitted, if desired. Its purpose is to enable the circuit to beinterrupted with facility between the bulb and the contacts 10, whichmay be accomplished by oscillating the disk. I

The sleeve or shell 6 of the connector C is equipped with an externalcollar 6 back of which the connector'C is encircled by a comparativelyheavy coil spring 17, which is accommodated by a tubular springhousing18, which" has an inturned flange 18 embracing the rear end of thespring 17,

- easily made 0 amp vided by spinning the metal of the shell outwardlyto form a bead, and then flattening the bead somewhat, thus providing a,shoulder or abutment for the front end of the spring 17. The spring canbe slipped over the rear end of the connector C, and to facilitate theassembly, it is preferred to cut or notch the flange 18 of thespringhousing 18 at diametrically opposite points and strike the tongues18 rearwardly, thus providing recessgs through which the lateral studs19 will pass when the spring-housing This will be understood readilyfrom Fig. 4. After the spring-housing isin place, the tongues l8 arebent back, thus filling the recesses.

again andcompleting or restoring the flange 18". Thus, the springfollower is disposed upon the connector betweenthe collar 6 and thelateral studs 19, and free. to slide longitudinally upon the connector.When the connector C is'entered in the socket of the connector .13, thespringl? is laced under compression, so that when the lateral studs 19are rotated to engage the offsets 5 of the bayonet-slots, the connectorswill be so firmly interlocked as to effectually prevent the dash-lampfrom rattling, even though it may be of quite heavy construction.- Itmay be stated here'that the springs of the contacts 4 of the connector Bare designed to insure a continuity of the circuit under all conditionsof usage, but they are ordinarily too light toprevent rattling of thedash-lamp. On the'other hand, the spring 17 is advanta eously located,and maybe e strength to hold the connector C forcibly projected, withthe lateral studs 19 firmly interlocked in the offsets 5 of thebayonet-slots 5.

Inasmuch as the head portions of the bayonet-slots are apt to bedisposed at varying distances from the front surface of the flange 2 ofthe connector B, it is preferred to make the tubular spring-housing 18oflarge enough diameter to enable the springhousing to slide over theflange or collar 6 in the event that it is necessary to compress thespring 17 more than is shown in Fig. 3.

en the parts are designed to best advantage, however, the flange 6serves virtually as a closure for the front end of the spring-housing18, in the manner shown in' Fig. 3, so that the device presents a neatappearance.

When desired, the dash-lamp shown in Fig. 1 may be inserted intheconnector D, and the connector D may be inserted in the connector B,This enables the dash-lamp to cure by be used as an exploring lamp. Itmay be noted that in this case the socket portion or shell 20 of theconnector D presents a comparatively thin front edge, which will,however, abut against the inturned flange 18 of the housing 18 on theconnector C. Thus, the connector C is adapted to a connector of the typeindicated by the reference character D in Fig. 5.

The construction described is simple, inexpensive, and thoroughlyadapted to the purpose of preventing rattling of the dashlamp, and thusthe danger of the dash-lamp being shaken fromits socket is obviated.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitation should be understoodtherefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly aspermissible in View of the prior art.

What I regard as new, and desire to se- Letters Patent is:

1. In means of the character set forth, the combination with a supportand a connector carried thereby comprising a shell provided -withbayonet-slots and a plug secured in said shell equipped with contacts,of a dash-lamp equipped with a connector entered in said shell andhaving lateral studs engaging said bayonet-slots and having contactsengaging said first-named contacts, and a coil spring encircling saidsecond-named connector in front of the lateral studs thereof and servingto hold said second-named connector with its studs in interlockingengagement with said bayonet-slots.

2. In means of the character set forth, the combination with a supportand a connector mounted thereon having a shell provided withbayonet-slots and a plug secured therein provided with spring-contacts,and a dash-lamp equipped with a connector having a collar and lateralstuds spaced some distance back of said collar and engaging saidbayonet-slots and having also contacts engaging said spring-contacts, acoil spring encircling said second-named connector and disposed betweensaid collar and said studs,

and a tubular spring-housing having an inturned rear flange disposed infront of said first-named connector and engaging the rear end of saidcoil spring.

3. A device of the character set forth, comprising a connector providedwith an external shoulder and with external lateral studs disposed somedistance back of said shoulder and adapted to engage the bayonetslots ofa companion connector, and a coil spring encircling said connector anddisposed between said shoulder and said studs.

4. A device of the character set forth, comprising a co ector providedwith an external collar and some distance back of said collar withlateral studs, a coil spring encircling said connector and disposedbetween said shoulder and said studs, and a tubular spring-housingslidable on said connector and having a'flange disposed in front of saidstuds and engaging the rear end of said spring.

5. A device of the character set forth, comprising a connector providedwith an external collar and some distance back of said collar withlateral studs, a coil spring encircling said connector and disposedbetween said shoulder and said studs, and a tubular spring-housingslidable on said connector and having a flange disposed-in front of saidstuds and engagin the rear end of said spring, the front end of saidspringhousing being of larger diameter than said collar.

6. A device of the character set forth ternal collar and equipped somedistance in the rear of said collar With lateral, studs, a coil springencircling said connector and disposed between said collar and saidstuds, and a tubular spring-housing slidable on said connector andhaving a flange disposed in front of said studs and engaging the rearend of said spring, said flange being notched and provided with tonguesclosing said notches.

JOHN BERG.

' comprising a connector provided With an ex- 7

